How do you use "would rather / would prefer" in a sentence?

I'd rather stay home tonight. Would you rather have tea or coffee? I'd rather you didn't mention it. I'd prefer to wait.

would rather / would prefer

Q: What does "would rather / would prefer" mean?

Expressing preferences 'Would rather + base verb' for preference: 'I'd rather stay.' For another person's action, use past tense: 'I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.' 'Would prefer + to infinitive or noun.'

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: Expressing preferences

表达偏好

Expresar preferencias

好みを表現する

선호를 표현하기

'Would rather + base verb' for preference: 'I'd rather stay.' For another person's action, use past tense: 'I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.' 'Would prefer + to infinitive or noun.'

'Would rather'后面跟动词原形：'I'd rather stay'。'Would prefer'后面跟to+动词：'I'd prefer to wait'。'Would rather someone did'用过去式表达对他人的偏好。

'Would rather' va seguido de infinitivo sin 'to': 'I'd rather stay.' 'Would prefer' va seguido de to + verbo: 'I'd prefer to wait.' 'Would rather someone did' usa pasado para preferencias sobre otros.

「Would rather」の後は原形不定詞：「I'd rather stay」。「Would prefer」の後はto + 動詞：「I'd prefer to wait」。「Would rather someone did」は他者への好みを過去形で表します。

'would rather + 동사 원형'으로 선호를 나타냅니다: 'I'd rather stay.' 다른 사람의 행동에 대해서는 과거 시제를 사용합니다: 'I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.' 'would prefer + to 부정사 또는 명사'도 가능합니다.

Examples

I'd rather stay home tonight.
我今晚宁愿待在家里。
Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.
今夜は家にいたいです。
오늘 밤은 집에 있고 싶습니다.
Would you rather have tea or coffee?
你想要茶还是咖啡？
¿Preferirías té o café?
紅茶とコーヒー、どちらがいいですか？
차와 커피 중 어느 쪽이 좋으세요?
I'd rather you didn't mention it.
我希望你不要提起这件事。
Preferiría que no lo mencionaras.
それについては触れないでほしいです。
그 얘기는 하지 않았으면 합니다.
I'd prefer to wait.
我宁愿等一等。
Preferiría esperar.
待つ方がいいです。
기다리는 편이 낫겠습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday, polite

Tone: preferential

✓ Do Say

I'd rather go alone.
我今晚宁愿待在家里。
Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.
今夜は家にいたいです。
I'd rather go alone.
Would you rather walk or drive?
你想要茶还是咖啡？
¿Preferirías té o café?
紅茶とコーヒー、どちらがいいですか？
Would you rather walk or drive?
I'd rather you came earlier.
我希望你不要提起这件事。
Preferiría que no lo mencionaras.
それには触れないでほしいです。
I'd rather you came earlier.

✗ Don't Say

I'd rather to go. (base verb, no 'to')
I'd rather to stay.（不加'to'）
I'd rather to stay. (sin 'to')
I'd rather to stay.（'to'不要）
I'd rather to go. (동사 원형, 'to' 없이)
I'd rather you come. (use past: 'came')
I'd prefer stay.（需要'to'）
I'd prefer stay. (necesita 'to')
I'd prefer stay.（'to'が必要）
I'd rather you come. (과거형 사용: 'came')
I rather go. (need 'would')
I rather go. ('would'가 필요함)

Origin & History

Preference expression

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal